Use Emergency SOS on your Apple Watch

With Emergency SOS, you can quickly and easily call for help and alert your emergency contacts.

Here's how it works

When you make a call with SOS, your Apple Watch automatically calls the local emergency number. In some countries and regions, you might need to choose the service that you need. For example, in China mainland you can choose police, fire, or ambulance.

You can also add emergency contacts. After an emergency call ends, your Apple Watch alerts your emergency contacts with a text message, unless you choose to cancel. Your Apple Watch sends them your current location, and, for a period of time after you enter SOS mode, it sends your emergency contacts updates when your location changes.

After the call ends, your Apple Watch sends your emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel. If Location Services is off, it will temporarily turn on. If your location changes, your contacts will get an update, and you'll get a notification about 10 minutes later.

Stop sharing your location

When your location is being shared, you'll get a reminder to stop every 4 hours for 24 hours. To stop the updates, select Stop Sharing in the notification.

End a call

If you start the countdown by accident, release the side button.

If you start an emergency call by accident, firmly press the display, then tap End Call.

Add or remove contacts

You can add emergency contacts from the Health app on your iPhone:

Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.

Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.

Tap to add an emergency contact.

Tap a contact, then add their relationship.

Tap Done to save your changes.

Here's how to remove emergency contacts:

Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.

Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.

Tap next to a contact, then tap Delete.

Tap Done to save your changes.

You can't set emergency services as an emergency contact.

Turn off automatic dialing

You can change your settings so that holding the side button won't call emergency services automatically:

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab.

Tap Emergency SOS.

Turn off Hold Side Button.

If you turn off this setting, you can still use the Emergency SOS slider to make a call.